The lockdown DIY bug has bitten the best of us over this past year.
Regardless of whether home improvements were on your mind prior to last March or not, there’s just been something about having to stay inside our own four walls, accompanied by having more time on our hands than ever before, that seems to have turned the nation into DIY fanatics.
Who would’ve thought?
And with social media platforms flooded with people showing off everything from just a simple lick of paint or change of wallpaper, to their ingenious furniture upcycling creations, their at-home bars built out of pallets, and even their more ambitious garden pub makeovers, we’ve really seen it all too.
Now though, there’s a new DIY trend that’s undeniably taking over England’s third national lockdown, and people all across the country are having a crack at it.
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It’s something that fills the Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds of interior design lovers, something that the ever-popular Facebook group DIY On A Budget Official – which currently has over 2.1 million active members – sees numerous posts about on the daily, and even something which saw a search increase of over 250%, according to data from Google Trends.
So, we really weren’t kidding when we said it was taking over.
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But, what is this trend then?
Well, it seems that pretty much everyone has been trying their hand at DIY wall panelling with MDF wood as their latest lockdown project in a bid to add texture to their tired rooms, and some of the transformations are nearly unrecognisable too.
Pinterest / Champions (UK) PLC
Acting as a fresh take on the feature wall phenomenon from the last decade, panelling can add warmth, depth and character to any space, no matter the size, and appears to be especially popular in the hallways, bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms of DIY fans.
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Styles of panelling include mouldings with grand period designs, tongue and groove, traditional shaker-style, Jacobean-style grid, or dado style.
And it’s actually fairly simple to achieve for yourself too, hence the popularity.
While it’s advised by interior design experts and stylists that you do a bit of research into what style of panelling is likely to suit your home best before you roll up your sleeves and get stuck into it, you shouldn’t be put off if you’ve never done it before.
Despite how tricky it may look to start with, even just a little know-how means you can make decorative wall panels easily and quickly, and achieve great results.
Fancy giving it a go then?
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Before you begin, the essentials you’ll need for this include – MDF wood panelling, a spirit level, No Nails Glue (or a similar brand), decorator’s caulk, a saw or cutter, a notebook and pen to jot down sizes, your choice of paint, sandpaper or an electric sander, a hammer, pins, and a tape measure.
Firstly, you’ll want to have a bit of fun planning your styles of panelling and seeking out inspiration online to get a feel for what will look best in your home, before you begin the important measuring process, which requires you to decide how many panels you want, and then use your tape measure to work out the full width and height of the wall you are deciding to panel.
Then it’s time to cut the panels, which you can either enlist the help of a professional for, or do yourself by using a saw and mitre box at a 90-degree angle, carefully cutting the panels that will be horizontally placed according to the measurements, repeating this process for all of the vertical panels and lightly sanding the ends until smooth.
You’ll want to spend some time sanding and smooth down the rest of your walls next, either with sandpaper or an electric sander if you have one to hand.
Now it’s the crucial process of applying the panels to your wall, where it’s advised to start by adding the frame – first with the base panels, followed by the top – then placing your panel onto the marked wall and using a laser level to ensure the panel is straight, before applying a strong adhesive to the back, sticking it to the wall, and being sure to press down firmly.
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It’s best to add the vertical panels first, followed by the horizontal panels.
Then finally, once you have applied the panels to your walls, you’ll need to go over them with decorator’s caulk to patch up any unsightly gaps, cracks or holes and wait for it to fully dry, before sanding down to complete the look and finishing off with your choice of paint.
And you’re done.
If you need a little more guidance, just remember that social media is your best friend for this, and you can also find further information about achieving your own DIY panelling here.
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Mix-up leaves tourists bound for Peak District on a day trip to… Rochdale
Daisy Jackson
Who needs rolling hills and country pubs when you could have *checks notes* roadworks and charity shops?
Well, that’s the situation two people ended up in recently after a mix-up rerouted their trip to the Peak District to Rochdale, of all places.
Thankfully seeing the funny side, Canadian TikTok creator Mackenzie shared a video of the day trip they got stuck with.
The pair of mates had been planning a trip to the honeypot town of Castleton in the Peak District, but accidentally ended up heading over to Castleton in Rochdale instead.
In the light-hearted clip, she says: “This is just a reminder to read the small print when you want to do a spontaneous trip. Because Margarita and I thought we were going to the Peaks, and this is where we are…” while panning to the sight of some roadworks.
She continued: “We thought we were going to see gorgeous green hills. Nope.
“Anyways, come with us on our Castleton Manchester, not Peak District adventure.”
They visited Springfield Park, went to a pub to eat onion rings (with a random giant dog staring at them), erm… went to a charity shop, and looked at some houses.
Okay so not quite the Peak District paradise they were picturing.
One person commented: “Absolutely howling. Come all the way from America to end up in Rochdale” (Mackenzie stressed in her reply that she lives in Manchester and also, is Canadian).
Another said: “It’s the Springfield park for me”
Someone else suggested: “Rochdale should rename all of its areas to encourage more tourists. Hahah”
Dying to know if these girls ever made it to Castleton, Derbyshire.
Travel warning issued as Manchester braces for busiest day of the year so far
Daisy Jackson
A ‘plan ahead’ travel warning has been issued for this weekend as the Manchester Marathon brings the busiest day of the year so far on the tram network.
Tens of thousands of people will hit the streets to take part in the race itself, with thousands more cheering them on from the sidelines.
This year’s Manchester Marathon route takes 36,000 runners through Sale, Stretford and Timperley before finishing up at a new finish line on Oxford Road – and there’ll be some big changes to your usual travel routes to accommodate this.
TfGM has said that Bee Network trams will be very busy before, during and after the 26.2 mile race, especially in Manchester and Trafford, with a number of road closures in place too.
Taking place on Sunday 27 April, the Manchester Marathon will coincide with Manchester’s popular St George’s Day parade which starts and ends across town around Oldham Road and Great Ancoats Street.
People are being encouraged to plan their journeys carefully this weekend, as it’s expected to be the busiest day of the year on the Bee Network trams.
The Manchester Marathon last year set a new personal best for the tram network, with 175,000 tram journeys racked up – the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday.
Trams will be the best choice to get around the Manchester Marathon course with key stops along the route including Sale, Timperley and Chorlton.
Many road closures will also be in place but at different times of day, so make sure you check HERE for the latest.
This will impact bus services, which will be on diversion from 8am until the end of service on Sunday, with traffic and congestion expected on surrounding roads.
Runners heading to the start line will only be able to access the athletes’ village from Old Trafford and Trafford Bar tram stops up until 9am. Participants arriving after 9am should get off at Wharfside or Exchange Quay instead.
Metrolink is promising to deploy as many double trams as possible across the network, with additional services between Piccadilly and Timperley.
As for other modes of transport, those who wish to drive should make us of Park and Ride facilities where possible; and those on the train should note that Salford Central remains closed with bus replacements in place.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Director at TfGM said: “The Manchester Marathon is a highlight of the Manchester city centre calendar and our job is to make sure everyone can get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.
“We want everyone to have a great day – whether they are taking on the run themselves or cheering on a friend or loved one – and would urge people to plan their journey in advance, leave plenty of time and check the Bee Network app or website for the most up-to-date information.
“The start and finish lines will be especially busy so if you are coming to watch you may be better off catching the tram to Sale, Timperley or Chorlton, grabbing a coffee and claiming afront row seat to cheer runners on.
“Using public transport is the best way to avoid congestion and delays – and with Tap and Go contactless payments it’s never been easier or more seamless to get around Greater Manchester by bus and tram.”
Passengers can now travel seamlessly between bus and tram and pay for their journey by tapping on when boarding a bus without the need for a ticket, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel.
People travelling on Bee Network buses on Marathon Day can simply tap in and pay £5 for the day on as many buses as they need and just £4.90 on the tram. You can use all Bee Network buses as much as you want all day from just £5.40*.
Kirsty Wilde, Operations Director, from Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said: “The TfGM tram service is an invaluable part of our event, which allows thousands of participants and supporters to navigate around the city. With a record-breaking 36,000 participants set to take part on Sunday 27th April – and more exciting activities taking place over the weekend as a whole – we’re anticipating a rise in tram journeys, which will subsequently bring economic benefits to local vendors, the hospitality sector, and retail businesses.
“We’d like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for its continued hard work helping to facilitate what will be the largest event yet, and would also like to say a big thank you to the residents and businesses across Greater Manchester for their understanding and support.”
Emily Sergeant -
8th February 2021 
